Denominationalism
denominationalism

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Denominations are
associations of congregations, though sometimes it might be said that
congregations are localized subdivisions of denominations, that have a common
heritage. Moreover, a true denomination does not claim to be the only
legitimate expression of the church. A denominational heritage normally
includes doctrinal or experiential or organizational emphases and also
frequently includes common ethnicity, language, social class, and geographical
origin.面額協會的畢業典禮，雖然有時候，可以說，教會是局部性下屬的面額，即有一個共同的遺產，而且，一個真正的面額並不聲稱自己是唯一合法的表達教會的一個教派遺產通常包括理論或體驗或組織的側重點也經常包括共同的種族，語言，社會階級，地理來源。However, many or all of these once
common features have usually evolved into considerable contemporary diversity,
especially in older and larger
denominations.然而，許多或所有這些曾經共同的特點往往演變成相當當代多樣性，特別是在老年人和較大面額的。This often results in as wide a range
of differences within a denomination, despite organizational unity, as exists
between denominations.這往往造成廣泛的分歧，在一個教派，儘管組織團結，因為存在著不同面值。

The term
"denomination" in general refers to anything distinguished by a name.而言，
"教"一般是指什麼區別名稱。In religious
contexts the designation has traditionally applied both to broad movements
within Protestantism, such as Baptists and Methodists, and also to the numerous
independent branches of such movements that have developed over the years
primarily because of geographical expansion and theological
controversy.在宗教背景指定歷來既適用於廣泛調動新教，如浸信會和衛理，也給許多獨立的分支，如運動，有多年的演變，主要是因為地域的擴張和神學爭論。

Even though
denominations within Protestantism have come to be the largest expression of
organized Christianity beyond the level of the congregation, there has never
been much theological reflection on
denominationalism.即使面額內部新教來得到最大的表達有組織基督教超越級別的會眾，從未有過很多神學思考denominationalism
。A look at
theology textbooks or church creeds confirms
this.看看神學教科書或教會的信條證實了這一點。Probably the simplest explanation for
this omission is that the Bible in no way envisages the organization of the
church into denominations. It instead assumes the opposite, that all
Christians, except those being disciplined, will be in full fellowship with all
others. Any tendencies to the contrary were roundly denounced (1 Cor. 1:10 -
13).大概最簡單的解釋，這種疏忽的是，聖經沒有出路設想組織的教會到面額的，
它反而是假設相反，即所有基督徒，除了這些被處分，將在充分研究金與所有其他人的任何動向相反被全面揭露（ 1肺心病。 1:10 -1 3）
。Paul could write
a letter to the Christians meeting in various places in Rome or Galatia with
every assurance that all would receive its
message.保羅可以寫了一封信給基督徒會議在各個地方，在羅馬或galatia每保證所有能得到的信息。Today, for any city or country, he
would have to place the letter as an advertisement in the secular media and
hope.今天，對任何一個城市或一個國家，他將不得不把信作為一個廣告，在世俗的媒體和希望。

Denominationalism is a comparatively
recent phenomenon. The theological distinction between the church visible
and invisible, made by Wycliffe and Hus and elaborated by the Protestant
Reformers, underlies the practice and defense of denominationalism that emerged
among seventeenth century English Puritans, who agreed on most things but not on
the crucial issue of how the church should be organized.denominationalism是一個比較近期的現象。神學之間的區別，教會有形及無形的，所作出的wycliffe和溶血尿毒綜合症，並闡述了由新教改革者，突顯實踐和防禦的denominationalism這當中湧現出17世紀英語清教徒，他們同意對最事，但沒有對關鍵的問題是，如何教會應該組織起來。The eighteenth century revivals
associated with Wesley and Whitefield greatly encouraged the practice,
especially in America, where it became
dominant.十八世紀的復甦與韋斯利和Whitefield極大地鼓舞了實踐中，特別是在美國，它已成為佔主導地位。

Although a true
denomination never claims to be the only legitimate institutional expression of
the church universal, it frequently thinks itself to be the best expression, the
most faithful to the Scriptures and to the present activity of the Holy
Spirit.雖然真正的面額從來沒有宣稱自己是唯一合法機構表達教會普遍的，它往往認為自己是最好的表達，最忠實於經文，並以本活動的聖靈。Had it not thought so, at least when
beginning, why else would it have gone through the trauma of separating from (or
not joining with) an older
denomination?如果沒有思考，所以，至少在一開始，否則為什麼它經歷了創傷的分離（或不加入同）舊面額？A true denomination does not, however,
make exclusive claims upon its
members.一個真正的面額不過，這並不代表作出專屬債權後，它的成員。It frees them to cooperate with
Christians from other denominations in various specialized
ministries.它釋放出他們與之合作基督徒從其他面額各專門部委。

In theory
denominationalism is sharply contrasted with two much older approaches,
catholicism and sectarianism. That catholic or sectarian groups are often
called denominations reflects either an excessively loose use of the designation
or historical development within the group.在理論上denominationalism是鮮明對照，與兩老得多的辦法，天主教和宗派主義，即天主教或宗派團體通常被稱為是面額的，這不是一個過於鬆散，使用指定或歷史發展集團。

Catholic or
national churches at the period of their greatest growth are almost always
supported, that is "established," by the civil government, whether imperial or
tribal or, most commonly in recent centuries,
national.天主教或基督教國家，在其執行職務期間最大的增長幾乎總是支持，即是"既定"
，由文官政府，是否帝國或部落或最常見，在最近幾個世紀以來，國家。Such churches usually have been able to
survive even after that official support is withdrawn when the government became
Muslim, Marxist, or
secular.這種教會通常已無法生存，甚至之後的官方支持，是撤回，當政府變成了穆斯林的馬克思主義者，還是世俗。Catholic (from a Greek word for "the
whole") churches see themselves as properly embracing from infancy all
Christians within their territories, in contrast with the voluntary nature of
individual affiliation with a denomination.天主教（來自希臘語意為"全" ）
，教會認為自己是正確擁抱從嬰兒所有基督徒在其領土內，而相比之下，自願性質的個體從屬於某個面額。When catholic churches, of which the
Armenians have the oldest, are dispersed, then the basis for association becomes
ethnic rather than
territorial.當天主教教堂，其中亞美尼亞人有最古老的，是分散的，那麼依據協會成為民族，而不是領土。Over the centuries catholic churches
have usually recognized each other as having jurisdiction over the Christians of
their respective territories or
peoples.數百年來，天主教教堂通常承認對方有管轄權的基督徒，在各自領土內或人民。(The largest of them, the coalition
mostly of southwest Europeans and their derivative national churches known as
Roman Catholicism, has been recognizing others only in this century since its
claims were universal.)
（最大的人，聯軍大多西南歐洲人及其衍生全國教會稱為羅馬天主教，並已認識到別人，只有在本世紀以來，其自稱具有普遍性） 。

This mutual
recognition is facilitated by the catholic view, except in northwest Europe
where the national churches became Protestant in theology, that the churches in
each place are properly governed only by bishops in a supposedly traceable
succession from the
apostles.這種相互承認是促成由天主教的看法，除在西北地區如歐洲國家的教會，成為基督教神學，教會在每個地方都得到妥善僅由主教在一個理應繼承可追踪從使徒。In recent decades, and especially in
countries outside their homelands, most such churches have become in practice
increasingly like
denominations.在最近幾十年中，尤其是在國家外，他們的家園，多數此類教會已經成為在實踐中越來越像教派。That is, they have been willing to
concede some legitimacy to and encourage their members to cooperate with other
than catholic or national eccelsiastical
bodies.也就是說，他們都願意讓步的一些合法性，並鼓勵其成員與其他比天主教或國家eccelsiastical機構。

In theory
denominationalism is also sharply distinguishable from sectarianism. Each
Christian sect sees itself as the only legitimate institutional expression of
the followers of Christ. Unlike catholic churches the sects have never
embraced more than a small percentage of any population (with the possible
exception of some short lived medieval sects). Sects are frequently
distinguished not only by their exclusive organizational claims but also by
their disagreement with the fourth century understanding of the doctrine of the
Trinity that is traditionally adhered to by all catholic churches and Protestant
denominations. (Such professedly Christian movements as Spiritualism and New
Thought may be said to be divided into denominations even as Protestantism is,
but it is too confusing to blend these differing kinds of denominations given
their widely divergent theologies.) Some sects, especially when they are
Trinitarian, have been evolving into
denominations.在理論上denominationalism也急劇有別於宗派主義，
每基督教教派視本身為唯一合法機構表達了信徒的基督像天主教教會教派從來沒有擁抱，一個多小的百分比任何人口（可能的例外是一些短命的中世紀支派） 。
教派往往是傑出的，不僅他們獨有的組織聲稱，而且他們的分歧與第四世紀的理解中庸三位一體，即傳統上堅持所有天主教教會和新教教派。
（如professedly基督教變動作為唯心論和新的思想，可以說分為面額，即使是基督教，但它過於混亂，融入這些不同種面額，獻出了大相徑庭神學）的一些宗派的，尤其是當他們三位一體，已演變到面額。Conversely, some denominational
branches so focus their energies on their distinctive beliefs and practices that
they might as well be
sects.反過來說，一些教派黨支部，使他們集中精力於自己的獨特的信仰和習俗，他們可能也是被支派。

Besides
attracting to its ranks the once clearly distinct catholic churches and some
sects, denominationalism has brought forth several other institutional
responses. These are related in various ways to the obvious discrepancy
between denominational distinctiveness (or rivalry) and the biblical portrayal
of a unity of all Christians as close as that of the Father and the Son, a unity
perceived not just by faith but observable by the world (John 17:20 -
23).除了吸引到其排名曾明確提出鮮明的天主教教堂和一些支派， denominationalism帶來了其他幾個機構的反應，
這些都是相關的各種方式，以明顯的差距教派區別（或競爭）
，以及聖經中描繪的一個團結的一切基督徒接近，即父親和兒子，一個團結的感覺，不只是信仰，但有瞄頭，由世界 （約翰17:20 -2 3） 。

One response has
been to oppose denominations and urge all true Christians to leave them and meet
simply as churches of Christ, Christian churches, churches of God, disciples,
brethren, Bible churches, evangelical churches, and similar inclusive
names.一反應一直反對面額，並敦促所有真正的基督徒離開他們，並滿足僅僅作為教會的基督，基督教教堂，教堂的神，弟子弟兄們，聖經教會，福音派教會，和類似包容的名字。Despite obvious appeal in times of
denominational confusion, strife, and declension, the reality is that no such
movement has anywhere attracted most Christians to
itself.儘管有明顯的，在上訴的時候，教會混亂，紛爭，並衰退，但實際情況是沒有這樣的運動隨時隨地吸引了大多數的基督徒自己的道路。Instead this has been just another way
of increasing the number of denominations, and sects, usually with the group's
reluctance to admit it.相反，本已只是另一種方式的人數增加教派和教派，通常是同組的不願承認。

Another response
has been for local congregations to remain organizationally independent but to
engage in cooperative endeavors with other Christian organizations near and far
that have a variety of denominational
links.另一個反應一直是地方教會，以保持組織上的獨立，但從事合作事業與其他基督教組織或近或遠說，有各種各樣的教會聯繫。In fact many congregations that have
historical and legal ties to a denomination are functioning as if they did
not.事實上，許多教友說，是有歷史和法律關係上一個新面額正在運作，因為如果他們不同意。(Conversely, an independent
congregation that isolates itself is in effect just a small sect.)
（反過來說，一個獨立的聚集，這株本身實際上只是一個小教派） 。

The practicality
of congregational independency has been enhanced in this century by the growing
numbers and kinds of nondenominational specialized ministries such as home and
foreign missions; colleges and seminaries; camp and conference grounds;
publishers of magazines, books, and Sunday school curricula; evangelistic teams;
youth organizations; radio and television broadcasters; occupational
fellowships; and many others. Such ministries stress the doctrines and
practices held in common by all or at least many denominational families,
perform many functions that once were handled mostly by denominational agencies,
and enable both denominational and independent congregations to experience
broader fellowship. Perhaps a biblical precedent could be the evangelistic
team of "Paul and his company" (Acts
13:13).實用性堂會的獨立性已增加，在本世紀內，由越來越多種nondenominational專門部委如家和外國使團;學院和神學院;陣營和會議的理由;出版的雜誌，書籍，和週日學校課程;福音隊;青年組織;無線電和電視廣播;職業獎學金;以及其他許多人。
此類部委強調學說和做法，在舉行共同所有或至少在許多教會家庭，演出的許多功能，一旦被處理，大多由教會機構，使兩教會和獨立的畢業典禮，體驗更廣泛的獎學金，也許一個聖經的先例，可能是福音隊的"保羅和他的公司"
（使徒13時13分） 。Such
organizations have at least as much validity as do the denominations whose
leaders frequently disparage them, but only as helpful supplements to and
extensions of a vibrant congregational life rather than as a replacement for
it.這些組織都至少有多達效力做面額其領導人經常輕視他們，但只作為有益的補充和擴展的一個充滿活力的堂會生活，而不是以此替代它。

Yet another
response to denominationalism has been the attempt to promote more visible unity
in this century through
ecumenicity.又一次回應denominationalism一直試圖推動更有形團結在本世紀內通過ecumenicity 。The ecumenical movement has seen many
denominational mergers, sometimes across family lines, as well as denominational
cooperation at the higher official levels through councils of churches.
Generally speaking, the nondenominational specialized ministries are
unambiguously evangelical in theology, while the promoters of conciliar
ecumenism are
not.在基督信仰合一運動，但也經歷了許多教派兼併，有時遇到家系，以及教會合作，在更高層次的官員，通過議會的教堂。 一般來說，
nondenominational專門部委都毫不含糊地福音派神學，而推動者conciliar基督信仰合一是不是。

Denominational
identity is not nearly so accurate a predicter of theological stance, worship
style, organizational preference, or social class as it once was. There is
no indication that denominations will soon disappear, but neither does it appear
that anyone is eager to justify them theologically.教會的身份並非如此準確predicter的神學立場，信仰的作風，組織的偏好，或社會階級，因為它曾經是有沒有跡象顯示面額將很快消失，但也沒有出現任何急於辯解theologically
。The trend seems
to be toward a new kind of denominationalism, one that is no longer based
primarily on associations of congregations with a common
heritage.趨勢似乎被推向一個新的種denominationalism ，一個不再是主要基於協會的教友同一個共同的遺產。Such associations will no doubt
continue, but increasing emphasis seems likely to be placed directly on the
local congregation of whatever, if any, denomination, and on the network of
specialized ministries supported by and extending the outreach of congregations
and their
members.這些協會將毫無疑問繼續推行，但日益重視，似乎有可能被直接放在對當地聚集，無論如何，如果有的話，面額，對網絡的專門部委的支持，並擴大推廣的教會及其成員。